Flexible parking sign



July 4, 1939. DONOVAN 2,164,680

FLEXIBLE PARKING SIGN Filed April 22, 1938 WITNEis/%,% ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

ments of the structure in relation to the legendbearing element so as to lend attractiveness to the structure in addition to the protective qualities thereof.

A further object is to facilitate the manufacture and minimize the cost of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages to be attained, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists in the novel structure as described and pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a front elevation of the device; and Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral l0 designates the supporting base which, as shown, is preferably flattened throughout and relatively low so that a vehicle may pass thereover with ample clearance, said base being of substantial width and sufficient weight to prevent the device from toppling over when the upstanding portion thereof is struck by an automobile or other vehicle, said base portion being provided on its under side with sharpened lugs or studs II to prevent slippage of the base on the pavement of the roadway or adjacent sidewalk upon which the sign may be placed in use.

Extending upwardly in normal perpendicular relation to the base [0 is a standard or post l2 which is preferably tubular, the lower end portion of said standard or post being securely fitted and fastened in the restricted upper end portion l3 of a helical spring element l4 through which said standard or post I2 is flexibly coupled to the central portion of the base I0, said spring element l4 possessing sufficient inherent resiliency to normally sustain the standard or post l2 with the parts carried thereon in upright position but being readily flexed when a comparatively slight force is applied laterally to the standard or post.

Secured to the upper portion of the standard or post l2, as by a Welding process or other means of fastening, is a rectangular legend bearing plate or panel l5, said plate or panel being of any desirable shape but preferably rectangular and vertically elongated as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

Located laterally from the opposite vertical 5 marginal portions of the panel or plate l5 and some distance forwardly from the front face of said plate or panel a pair of longitudinal guard bars I6 are provided, the lower end portions of said bars [6 being curved inwardly, as at IT, and the extreme lower end portions being reversely curved and brought together, as at I8, and welded or otherwise securely fastened to the adjacent portion of the standard or post I2. The upper end portions of the guard bars [6 are bent inwardly and rearwardly with curvature, as at I9, the extreme upper end portions being brought together, as at 20, and welded or otherwise securely fastened to the upper end portion of the standard or post I2. 20

From the foregoing it is apparent that a frame structure is produced that is light in weight, yet rigid and durable and affords a protective support for the legend bearing panel plate 15, said frame arrangement being also such that there 25 is no obstruction in vision but that it rather enhances the attractive quality of the sign.

In adaptation and use the device may be employed for either traffic or parking regulation, as hereinbefore pointed out. In the particular application of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is for a No parking sign such as those usually placed at taxicab stand reservat1ons, loading spaces or private parking spaces, the sign being placed either upon the sidewalk adjacent the roadway or directly upon the roadway in the region of the particular space to be reserved. In any case, however, an automobile, truck or other vehicle may be driven or backed against the sign, and even pass thereover, without damage to either the sign or the vehicle, as the guard bars 16 are so positioned that either one or both of them are struck by the bumper which is usually provided on the vehicle at whatever angle the vehicle is moving towards the sign, the spring element It being thereby flexed and due to its relatively low elevation above the base I0 permits the axle and under parts of the vehicle to pass freely thereover without tipping the base 10.

Obviously, the structure admits of considerable modification within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific construction and arrangements shown in the accompanying drawing.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible trafiic or parking sign comprising a standard resiliently mounted at its lower end whereby to be yieldably sustained in a normal upright position, a legend-bearing panel on the upper front side of said standard, and a guard frame carried by the standard in cooperative relation to said legend-bearing panel, said guard frame including a pair of longitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to the axis of said standard in spaced relation to each other and respectively spaced forwardly from said legendbearing panel and laterally from the opposite side margins of said panel, the upper end portions of said bars being turned inwardly and convergently above the panel and rigidly attached to the adjacent end portion of the standard, the lower end portions of said bars being likewise turned below the panel and secured to the lower portion of the standard.

2. In a flexible traffic or parking sign and the like, a relatively heavy supporting base having anti-slip provision on its under side, a normally upright standard resiliently attached at its lower end to said base, a legend-bearing panel on the upper portion of said standard, and a protective frame Comprising opposed longitudinal guard bars attached at their upper and lower ends to said standard, said bars extending in substantially parallel relation to the axis of said standard and in spaced relation in front of and laterally from the opposite side margins of said legend bearing panel.

3. In a flexible traffic or parking sign and the like, a relatively heavy supporting base, a normally upright standard attached at its lower end to said supporting base by means of an inherently resilient flexible coupling element, a legend-bearing panel on said standard, and a protective frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal guard bars extending longitudinally in substantial parallel relation to the axis of said standard, and in spaced relation to the face and opposite side marginal portions of said legend-bearing panel, the opposite end portions of said guard bars being curved inwardly toward each other and with their extreme end portions secured together and to the adjacent portions of said standard.

4. In a flexible traffic or parking sign and the like, a relatively heavy supporting base, said base being generally flat and of substantial Width but of slight height, a helical spring element extending axially upwardly from said supporting base, said spring element being securely fastened at its lower end to the base and its upper end portion being contracted, a normally upright standard secured at its lower end portion in the restricted upper end portion of said spring element, a legend-bearing panel secured on the upper end portion of said standard, and longitudinal guard bars extending substantially in parallel relation to said standard and in laterally spaced relation to the face and opposite side margins of said legend-bearing panel, the end portions of said guard bars being curved inwardly toward each other and joined together, said joined portions being supportingly attached to said standard.

HUGH HOOPER DONOVAN. 

